Chapter 919: Two Rogue Pirates

As He Lingchuan opened his mouth, Dong Rui interrupted him, "But you've already picked it clean; there's nothing left. Really, it's gone!"

"A divine tomb? Are there any living gods inside?"

Dong Rui looked at him as if he were caring for a mentally challenged person. "What kind of question is that? Of course not! Otherwise, would they let me take their blood and bones?"

***

Lu Qing'an returned home late in the evening.

His father, Lu Zhensheng, was already back and waiting for his report.

Lu Qing'an presented the 40,000-tael silver notes but said nothing about the unexpected incident during the sea inspection, only stating that the day had gone exceptionally smoothly. What was the point of mentioning it? The islands had already been sold. The only thing the old man could complain about was selling them too cheaply—since someone was eyeing the archipelago, they might have accepted a higher price. On second thought, had He been tricking him all these days? Lu Qing'an felt a bit annoyed.

Lu Zhensheng, seeing the silver notes, also breathed a sigh of relief, then gave a bitter smile. "To stoop for a mere few tens of thousands of taels of silver. Alas, I never thought our father and son would see such a day."

"Anyone in business knows there are times when money is tight," Lu Qing'an comforted him. "It's just a half-month hurdle; once it's over, we'll be fine. Next month, with the autumn harvest and taxes coming in, our coffers will be full again."

Baile's land was very fertile, rarely suffered from disasters, and was free from warfare, leading to frequent bumper harvests.

Lu Qing'an changed the subject. "By the way, next month is Baishun Festival. What are my second brother and his wife planning?"

In previous years, Lu Qinglin and his wife often returned home to visit relatives for the Baishun Festival.

"There's a war in the west, and Qinglin is still on the front lines, so it's hard to say right now," Lu Zhensheng casually replied. "Most likely, they won't be coming back."

Lu Qing'an let out an "Oh" and felt relieved. His sister-in-law was Xia Lishang, a top-tier influential figure from Mou State and the daughter of General Yutian. Every time she came to visit, Baile had to provide the highest level of reception to show respect. What did "highest level" mean? Spending money. Wasting resources and troubling the people. These three phrases were fast becoming Lu Zhensheng's taboos; just mentioning them gave him a toothache.

Coinciding with the autumn harvest, Baile had finally managed to save some money. With Xia Lishang's arrival, who knew how much would be squandered again? Her not coming was truly a cause for universal joy. To save some money, Lu Qing'an had no problem not seeing his second brother.

***

The next day was cloudy.

The morning sun was blocked by thick clouds, and the sea breeze felt a bit cool.

Fishbone Reef was very small, only about thirty to forty square meters. Rather than a "reef," it was more like a small, elongated sandy beach, with the exposed part being white and fine, shaped like a fishbone, hence its name. During high tide, the entire Fishbone Reef would be submerged.

Today, at Chenshi (7-9 AM), it was the lowest point of low tide. He Lingchuan arrived by boat, and his subordinates set up a table and two chairs on Fishbone Reef, placing a jar of fine wine on the table. He Lingchuan sat there waiting, pouring and drinking for himself, listening to the ebb and flow of the waves. Qiu Hu and other guards stood behind him with their hands clasped, unmoving.

After half an hour, Qiu Hu leaned closer and said, "Young Master, half the time has passed."

He Lingchuan nodded, completely unhurried.

Why was he so confident the pirates would show up? It was simple: before Raina left the painted boat yesterday, He Lingchuan had secretly placed an eyeball spider on her. As expected, the girl found the pirates' Second Master and relayed Young Master He's demands. The pirate den erupted in chaotic laughter, making jokes about their new island master. However, after the Second Master heard Raina's experiences on Suoding Island, he decided to meet He Lingchuan.

Aside from anything else, the meeting location He Lingchuan chose showed sincerity. Fishbone Reef was not on land, nor even within Dao Feng Port. The beach and sea surface were open and unobstructed, with nowhere for ships to hide, thus eliminating any possibility of an ambush. To have a proper discussion, one needed a location where both parties could feel secure.

Another small half hour passed.

Just as Chenshi was nearing its end, a fast boat suddenly approached and dropped anchor with exceptional swiftness. Then, over thirty burly men jumped off the boat and walked towards them. The leader was not tall, had a large head and thick neck, and a long scar on his left cheek stretching from his eyebrow and eyelid to the corner of his mouth. No matter his expression, he always looked menacing. These men had dark, shiny skin, like old farmers in the field. But He Lingchuan knew that was the result of wind and sun exposure at sea.

He had told Min Tianxi to bring only five people to the reef, but this fellow brought over thirty. They were a dense crowd, formidable in numbers. Why would pirates obey the words of a minor "island master"?

The pirate leader eyed him up and down. "He?"

He Lingchuan gestured with his hand. "Second Master Min is here? Please have a seat."

The man showed no fear and sat down unceremoniously. The pirates spread out behind him, using their numerical advantage to surround Qiu Hu and his men, glaring menacingly. It was 35 to 6, a significant disparity in numbers.

Surrounded by the gang of pirates, He Lingchuan remained calm. "What should I call you?"

"My name is Min Tianxi." He didn't believe He Lingchuan hadn't inquired about his name.

"Master Min," He Lingchuan personally lifted the pot and poured him a cup of wine.

The aroma of the wine was inviting, but Min Tianxi didn't even raise his hand. How could he drink wine of unknown origin?

"Are you the big fool who bought the Yangshan Archipelago?" Min Tianxi went straight to the point, taking control of the conversation first.

"I bought the archipelago, but I'm no fool," He Lingchuan wouldn't be led astray. "In due time, you'll find out who the real fool is."

"Oh?" Min Tianxi was a little curious. "Who?"

He Lingchuan smiled without speaking.

The pirates nearby were whispering, occasionally pointing at them. A more audacious one reached out, trying to poke a Rongshan man's shoulder.

"Are these Master Min's elite?" He Lingchuan glanced at them. "They dare to whisper and joke around while their master is discussing important matters. Their discipline is severely lacking."

Min Tianxi frowned. Indeed, when he was talking to someone, these lads giggling and whispering beside him were ill-mannered; in contrast, the five men behind He Lingchuan stood like statues, silent and unmoving, a stark contrast to his own men's sloppiness and disrespect.

"All of you, shut up!"

At Min Tianxi's roar, the pirates' private chatter gradually subsided.

Qiu Hu watched, his gaze flickering slightly.

Only then did the pirate leader ask, "How much did you pay for this archipelago?"

He Lingchuan didn't hide it from him. "Eighty thousand taels."

"Only eighty thousand?" Min Tianxi slapped the armrest of his chair. "Aiya, if I had known it was only eighty thousand, wouldn't I have just gone to Baile to buy it? These islands and waters would rightfully be mine from now on."

A confidant behind him reminded him, "Master, we're in a no-capital business; we can't spend money."

Who would rob their own territory?

Min Tianxi shot him a harsh glare. "Are you being stupid again? Can't you tell I'm mocking this kid?"

"Do you think these eighty thousand taels were well spent?" This Island Master He looked like a rich young master, but his gaze was steady. His guards also seemed to have cultivation, indicating considerable strength.

Min Tianxi's gaze swept over Qiu Hu twice. As a pirate leader, the most important thing wasn't how many men he commanded, but having sharp eyes to pick the right prey. Someone as outwardly fierce and tough as Qiu Hu was clearly a difficult target, and the pirates of the Second Path certainly wouldn't pick him as prey. What about his master, Young Master He? Was he not as foolish as the rumors suggested? Should he test him?

"Very well spent." He Lingchuan raised his cup and sipped the fine wine. "Just Longji Island alone, how much farmland could be reclaimed, how many estates built? And no exorbitant taxes to pay." Not only did he not have to pay, but he could also collect these sums from people who bought homes and property on the islands. "The result is that dozens of islands combined sold for only eighty thousand taels. What is that if not a bargain price?"

Min Tianxi watched him for a while before asking, "You know you can't enter the depths of the archipelago, right?"

Because of the murky yin qi.

He Lingchuan didn't even raise an eyelid. "Normally, the Yin Crocodiles wouldn't swim to the outer areas to harm people, Master Min, you know that, right?" He was referring to the recent changes in the Yangshan Archipelago, and also answering Min Tianxi's previous question: He knew everything.

"Oh?" Min Tianxi was surprised. "You know the reason?" This kid knew the Yangshan Archipelago had yin qi, yet he dared to buy it? Who gave him such courage?

"Of course." He Lingchuan smiled. "Without some confidence, how could I dare buy the Yangshan Archipelago? Let's put it this way: within a month at most, the yin qi on all islands except Longji Island will dissipate."

Min Tianxi's playful expression slowly turned serious, then he suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"Almost, I almost believed you!" Min Tianxi slapped his thigh, laughing uncontrollably. "Are you saying you can purify the yin qi of the earth veins? If you had even a few peanuts on the table as a snack, you wouldn't be drinking like this."

He Lingchuan calmly waited for him to finish laughing.

Qiu Hu stepped forward, releasing a murderous aura.

With several clangs, the pirates surrounding them immediately drew their swords.

The situation instantly became tense.

He Lingchuan raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling both sides to calm down.

Only when Min Tianxi's laughter ceased did he continue, "If the yin qi on Longji Island hadn't dissipated over a large area, why would the Yin Crocodiles be dying in such numbers?"

"It's just a coincidence," Min Tianxi frowned. "In the Yangshan Archipelago, it's not rare for yin qi to dissipate by chance, or for any other strange things to happen. Do you want to claim credit for a natural phenomenon?" Even if the yin qi dissipated, that would be due to changes in the earth veins, a work of nature's creation. What connection could this young punk have with it? At most, he might have figured out the variables involved, but trying to trick people with this was too naive!

He Lingchuan knew that words alone were not enough, and this pirate leader wouldn't believe him anyway. So he said, "If I say the yin qi can dissipate, then it certainly can. So, our problem becomes very clear, Second Master."

"Oh?" Min Tianxi asked, feigning ignorance. "What problem?"

"You're foraging on my territory without my permission." Getting straight to the point, He Lingchuan saw no need for further subtlety. "Previously, the Baile people were incompetent and and could only turn a blind eye; now the Yangshan Archipelago has a new owner. I sincerely advise you to carefully consider whether to stay or leave."

Several pirates behind Min Tianxi scoffed and ridiculed, "Just you few?"

"Kid, you've got a big mouth! Today, we'll chop you up and feed you to the fish, and we'll take the archipelago ourselves!"

"With the land deed in hand, whoever sees our Master Min from now on will have to respectfully call him Island Master!"